Hello from Greensboro!

HELLO!

Finally, finally, finally p-day is here. It feels like it's been two whole weeks. Because it has been two whole weeks. Haha! Ok first things first, I wrote you guys a long letter while I was on the plane, and I just have been waiting to send it. It talks about a few last MTC things, because I figured by the time I got to email, I would only be talking about NC!

So we left the MTC at 3:30 AM on Monday. I waved to Ventana, and UVU, and our house :) Then I called you guys which was THE BEST. Then we landed in Atlanta, and stepping off that plane was the first time I realized how much of a spectacle I've become. There were a few people looking at us and shaking their heads in disgust, there were people smiling at us, mostly everyone just staring at us. It was SO weird. As all of these people stared at me I could only imagine the kind of thoughts they already had about the kind of person I was, and I just wanted to say "I really am a normal person!!!!" So that's been interesting. Sorry I didn't have any time to call in Atlanta, we really just got off the plane, waited 15 minutes and boarded the next plane. 

North Carolina... It is incredibly beautiful here! So green, just like everyone said it would be. Also, I think I have adjusted to the humidity fairly quickly. Yes, it's pretty gross and I sweat like none other here, but it's not so bad. Plus Heavenly Father has been really nice and this week it was pretty cool. It also rained A LOT. Everyone I met just kept telling me what an odd summer it has been with all the rain. There are also TONS of bugs here. Giant bugs. Giant to me is probably not so giant to other people, but Utah really is mild in the insect category. I have probably gotten 20 mosquito bites, but they go away really quickly. 

So let's see.. I'll go through a quick run down of my time here!!

Monday Night

We stayed in the mission home, which was beautiful. Everything here looks like it came right out of a story book. No wonder they film so many movies here! So... quaint :) Cute little homes with so many trees and grass. Lots of porches that are enclosed with screens or windows. We met President and Sister Craven when we got off the plane, and they are just the best. Sister Craven is SO sweet. She is also very organized and professional. She's the kind of person you'd want to go to when you weren't feeling well, or you just wanted to talk. She is a very strong, cute lady. We ate dinner at the mission home, which was barbecue. It was super good! We also ate some "Nana Pudding" (it's just banana pudding) which apparently is a huge favorite in NC. We were introduced to the Assistants and some of the Sister Training Leaders. They are great missionaries. Everyone was really nice. However, I started feeling really awful that night. Not sick or anything. But I just felt like I didn't want to be here anymore. I felt like there was this ideal image of a missionary that was expected, and I knew I just couldn't do that. However I have learned now that you can be obedient, receptive to the Spirit, and all of the other good qualities in a missionary, and you can still have your own personality. But yeah, Monday night was really really hard. I think some of it was lack of sleep. 

Tuesday

I got to meet with President Craven, which was a wonderful experience. He just talked to me and looked me right in the eyes every time I talked. He teared up towards the end and said that he knew exactly where I should be. The Spirit was so strong! And as you know, I am with Sister Whitmer and I am in the Colfax ward! (Pronounced "call-fax", according to the locals). Soon after I met an older couple that are members of the Colfax ward, Brother and Sister Shuler. Brother Shuler is a downright southern gentleman! He was so sweet and started tearing up saying how much he loved the missionaries and how excited he w

as to have me. He kept saying he wish he could just hug us, but knows he can't! He is so sweet. Apparently they drive the missionaries every time there is the transfer meeting. It takes a long time to get to Charlotte from here. Like two hours. He also says "sweetie" a lot, but says "Oh, sorry, I don't mean nothin' by it, I just call everyone sweetie". We offered to pull his weeds, and we did that on Wednesday. So many of the people here are such hard workers. They are always doing things to serve others. The ward especially. I REALLY lucked out on the ward. They love the missionaries and serve us as much as possible :) We have dinners scheduled pretty much every night! And everyone is asking when they can have us over! I LOVE the people here. And NC definitely has the Southern culture here. No doubt about it. There are lots of thick accents and lots of y'alls! I adore the people here. So loving and so kind! We really haven't had anyone that is rude to us. Which is a blessing for sure. However the biggest obstacle we have here is that everyone "has their church".

It's wonderful because everyone LOVES God and Christ here. They talk about it all the time. We run into people all the time that when we ask them if they have faith in Christ they start talking about how they love the Lord and how He has done everything for them. They love the Bible too. They are great people. But it is REALLY HARD to get people to talk to us, because many of them have already settled into their churches. They have friends there, many of them teach there, and lead Bible discussions. So they feel there is no need for anything else. I've really struggled with that. They are always telling us they appreciate what we're doing and they wish us well, and how it's great that we are spreading the gospel, but they aren't interested. It's really disheartening for me sometimes. Yesterday we went out tracting and we got to 5 really spread apart houses, and none of them were interested. Now I know this is only my first week :) :) hahahaha :) But as I was walking down the side of the road, I was feeling pretty sad. There hasn't been a baptism here in 7 months, and there are so many people that are less-active. We love visiting the less-actives :) Wonderful people. But it's still sad. I started to wonder if missionary work really affects anyone. It seems that so many people end up just disappearing after they get baptized. The only thing that stopped me from just bursting into tears walking down that road was thinking about Nana and Papa and Dad, and how the church has become such a huge part of their lives! And it made me realize that not everyone slips into inactivity, and not everyone is disinterested. If it weren't for missionaries, we probably wouldn't have the same family we do today. So that's what I've been holding onto :) Also there are plenty of people in the ward that are converts and have been in the church for years and years. Plus I really do know deep down that I am here for a purpose, and that this is the Lord's work and He really is preparing people. We just need to find them. 

ANYWAY. Please don't think I'm just sad all the time! I really like it here. Some days are better than others. Heck, some hours are better than others. Riding my bike isn't too bad. I actually love my bike! It is so nice :) And we just pin our skirts. The gray skirt mom sewed me is the best for riding. And the black one I bought for $2 at Saver's. I have to wear them a lot :) But they are super cute so that's great. We have the car every other week. But we have to drive to Charlotte a lot this month, so we don't even have very many miles. We are praying we can get a ride to Charlotte for a meeting on the 30th. 

Today has been great! Sister Susie Long is the sweetest lady. She is in the ward and is like 60 or so. I LOVE her. Sweetest southern lady around. She took Sister Whitmer and I to the grocery store today. She also took us to lunch, and is always thanking US for giving HER the opportunity to serve!! We are so indebted to her. I just love her. 

We got to teach quite a bit last week! We taught some less-actives, and some members. Sister Whitmer said she had never had so many lessons! 

I ALMOST FORGOT! When I first met Sister Whitmer and we were in the car on the way to Colfax, we were chatting and I said I was studying sign language. She smiled and said that they had been praying for someone who knew ASL. There is a family with deaf parents and the mom reads lips and speaks, but the dad only signs. They haven't gotten to meet with the dad yet, but the mom has been interested. Her father-in-law has been in the hospital, so we still haven't met with them. But still, I am really excited. That has been a blessing for sure. 

I love you all so much. I really miss you and hope to hear from you soon. I am always praying for you! Sounds like trek was interesting, but a good experience!!!\

Love,

Sister Adams

P.S.

My mission is one of 10 missions chosen to start using electronics! I will have my own iPad mini and we will have a companionship iPhone by the end of the year!! A general authority came here and added us to the missions piloting it because he was so impressed with the mission. So that's pretty neat! Kinda weird too! 

Also, they made me speak in church yesterday!!!! I have given so many talks the past while. But it went well considering I had not much time to prepare. Also, I have given out 2 Book of Mormons which was the BEST FEELING EVER!!!! One was today at the grocery store when this nice young man said "Are you the latter-day saints? Y'all gave me my first Bible!" I was like "That's so great!" Then we parted ways, then I was like "Umm.... HELLO SISTER ADAMS! You are a missionary!!" So I gave him a Book of Mormon. The end. He was happy to have it.